The Section is currently focusing on increasing awareness regarding diagnosis and treatment of anxiety disorders, including: social phobia, panic disorder, general anxiety disorder, and post traumatic stress disorder. By definition, the Section also focuses on obsessive compulsive disorder.

The Section participated in the writing of the book on OCD which was part of the WPA Series on Evidence and Experience in Psychiatry (Vol. 4) and the Chair of the Section was one of its editors.

In collaboration with the World Council on Anxiety (WCA), the Section also initiated an award devoted to educational activity in the areas of anxiety and OCD. This award was presented for the third time. The first award was given out in the WPA meeting in Madrid, the second at the WPA meeting in Hamburg, while the last award was given out at the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry meeting in Berlin.

At the recent WPA meetings in Madrid and Hamburg, the Section conducted a specific day devoted to OCD and is planning (in collaboration with the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Section) to organize such a day at the upcoming meeting in Japan.

In collaboration with the Section on Military Medicine, the Anxiety and OCD Section is also planning a specific day devoted to diagnosis and management of stress responses to catastrophic events.

Remarks: Individuals who would like to join the section, or who have any comments, are welcome to write to the Section Chair, Prof. J. Zohar at the abovementioned address.